Canada’s blue-liners proved that on Thursday at the world junior championship.

The Canadian offensive output was bookended by goals from defencemen Griffin Reinhart and Derrick Pouliot in a 4-1 quarter-final win over Switzerland.

“You get production from your backend, it’s big for you,” head coach Brent Sutter said. “It’s an added bonus.

“Every team wants to have so kind of offence from their backend. It becomes another dangerous component you can have on your hockey team.”

Canada had been lacking in goal scoring from their defensive corps before Thursday’s contest.

Only Aaron Ekblad had found the back of the net through the preliminary round.

The one goal scored by the blue-liners ranked Canada in a tie for last with Slovakia and Norway in that category.

Sam Reinhart (right) move in for a scoring chance on USA goaltender Jon Gillies during second period action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, December 31, 2013. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Frank Gunn)

Getting two goals from the group was a welcome change of pace.

“It’s definitely nice,” said winger Sam Reinhart, Griffin’s younger brother. “They’re definitely a big part of our team back there.

“They’ve been really smart all tournament for when to jump in the rush and they’ve definitely helped us out a lot.”

“It’s pretty important. We need to have that from our guys,” added Sutter about the production. “At the same time, we expect them to be good defending too and they have been.”

Leading the way was Griffin Reinhart.

He crashed the crease and deposited a chance created by captain Scott Laughton at 18:08 of the first period.

The goal opened the scoring in the game for Canada, the first time that’s happened in eight tournament and pre-tournament games.

The older Reinhart then went in on a breakaway in the third.

Sam Reinhart (23) celebrates Canada’s first goal during IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship first period action in Malmo, Sweden on Saturday December 28, 2013. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Frank Gunn)

He couldn’t beat Swiss goalie Melvin Nyffeler, but wound up assisting on a goal by his teammate with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, Curtis Lazar.

Lazar said Reinhart’s addition has been a huge boost to the team.

Reinhart missed the first three games while serving a suspension because of a high-sticking infraction in last year’s tournament.

“You watch him in the corner, shielding the puck, it’s almost impossible to get the puck off of him,” Lazar said.

Reinhart said he felt more comfortable with his skating and puck handling compared to his first game of the tournament against the United States on Tuesday.

The West Vancouver native started the season with the New York Islanders, but was returned to the Oil Kings without playing a regular season NHL game.

“I played him in pre-season with the Islanders,” said Lazar, an Ottawa Senators prospect. “He was probably one of the best players on the ice there as well.

“He just has a knack for finding the seams and making a good pass and jumping in the rush.”

And Reinhart sure put that into action on Thursday as he spearheaded the scoring punch among the blue-liner.

“It’s something that the defence takes pride in,” the 19-year-old said. “Everybody on this team can contribute offensively.”